Joker 2: Todd Phillips has signed on to co-write a sequel script

There have been various reports about Joker 2, with Warner Bros. yet to officially confirm if a sequel to the Oscar-nominated, Joaquin Phoenix-starring movie is even in development. Yet the evidence is mounting.

Recently, a report revealing new details about Warner Bros.' upcoming Superman film reaffirmed that the Clown Prince of Crime's solo movie has a "planned sequel". And now, The Hollywood Reporter has detailed that Todd Phillips – who directed Joker – will return to co-write the sequel.

The publication made the revelation in a report about Hollywood's top lawyers, reporting in a section about Warren Dern that Todd Phillips has "struck a deal to co-write the next Joker installment". 

A report from THR initially broke the news that Joker 2 is in development back in 2019, but more reports from Deadline and Variety muddied the waters.

Director Todd Phillips himself also said there were no plans in place for a follow-up, but left the door open: "Here's the real truth about a sequel. While Joaquin [Phoenix] and I have talked about it, and while touring the world with Warner Bros. executives – going to Toronto, and Venice, and other places – of course, we're sitting at dinner and they're saying, 'So, have you thought about…?' But, talking about contracts, there's not a contract for us to even write a sequel, we've never approached Joaquin to be in a sequel. Will that happen? Again, I just think the article was anticipatory at best."

Prior to that, he flatly denied a second movie would be in the works, after hinting it was a possibility to Total Film: "We have no plan for a sequel."

What's the truth? Considering Joker made over $1 billion at the box office, a follow-up seems like a certainty. Warner Bros. still has a massive slate of DC projects reportedly on the way, including the new Superman movie, as well as a Zatanna solo movie penned by Promising Young Woman writer/director Emerald Fennell, Wonder Woman 3, and plenty more. 

The next DC Comics project to hit our screens will be The Suicide Squad, which releases this August 6. Until then, check out how to watch DC movies in order for the ultimate movie marathon.